Abstract: Two chamber pumps and related methods provide a platform for measuring flow rate in about real time without contacting the material being pumped. Pressure and optional temperature sensors disposed in a pressurized chamber allow for flow material delivery calculations after being calibrated or by knowing the initial volume of the flow material to be delivered.

Abstract: Two chamber pumps and related methods provide a platform for measuring flow rate in about real time without contacting the material being pumped. Pressure and optional temperature sensors disposed in a pressurized chamber allow for fluid delivery calculations after being calibrated or by knowing the initial volume of the fluid to be delivered.

Abstract: A rotary pressure exchange device for transferring the pressure of a high pressure stream of first fluid to a low pressure stream of second fluid having an improved substantially cylindrical rotor (41, 51, 61). The rotor is formed to provide a plurality of longitudinal passageways comprising the lumens (49) of parallel tubes (47, 73) of circular cross-section which are located uniformly throughout an annular region. Certain preferred embodiments include an outer tubular casing (43) of circular cross-section and a coaxial central hub (45).

Abstract: A suction system comprising a suction pump (1) having at least one suction connection (2,2?,2?) and a delivery connection (3), a receiving reservoir (4) connected to the delivery connection (3), connecting pipings from a suction connection (2,2?) to a first space (7) from which a first fluid (8) should be sucked, and connecting pipings from the delivery connection (3) to the receiving reservoir (4), characterized in that the system further comprises a connecting piping (14,15,16) extending from a second space (10), from which a second fluid (11) should be sucked, to a suction connection (2,2?) of the pump (1), and comprises a device (12) disposed for causing an intermittent operation of the second fluid suction by the pump (1), responsive to the level reached by the second fluid (11) in the second space (10).

Abstract: Provided are a pump unit and a centrifugal microfluidic system including the pump unit. The pump unit includes a gas generating agent. The gas generating agent includes a plurality of heating particles generating heat by absorbing energy and one of a sublimation material, azide, and azo compound mixed with the heating particles. When energy is supplied to the gas generating agent, the gas generating agent generates gas due to heat emitted from the heating particles to increase an air pressure around the gas generation agent so that the fluid is moved by the increased air pressure.

Abstract: A pressure exchange device is provided that utilizes a rotor assembly inside a housing to transfer the pressure of a fluid from one high pressure fluid to another low pressure fluid. The housing may comprise a pressurized fluid contained therein to provide a sealing force to reduce fluid leakage between the spinning rotors and the housing. The sealing force and wear characteristics may be controlled to reduce leakage and wear of the pressure exchange device. The rotor assembly may be driven in either direction and the high pressure ports may be switched with the low pressure ports if desired.

Abstract: A pressure exchanger for the transfer of pressure energy from a high pressure fluid stream to a lower pressure fluid stream wherein a generally cylindrical housing contains a rotor having a plurality of channels extending axially therethrough and a pair of end covers which slidingly and sealingly interface with respective end faces of the rotor. The end covers are supported against deformation by high pressure upon the end covers in an inward direction, as by exerting a balancing comparable outward axial force upon inward surfaces of the end covers through the employment of pressure-balancing chambers that are in communication with a high pressure fluid region at one end cover.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and process using an organic Rankine cycle to produce shaft work to operate a fuel cell system component such as an air compressor. The air compressor delivers compressed air to a fuel cell stack. The steps of the Rankine cycle include pumping a liquid working fluid to an elevated pressure, heating the fluid to a gas, expanding the high temperature and high-pressure gas through an expander to produce shaft work used to drive a fuel cell system component such as an air compressor, and then removing energy from the cooling fluid to change the gas back to a liquid, and repeating the cycle. The liquid fluid can be heated by an external boiler, or one of the components of the fuel cell system such as the combustor and/or the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and process using an organic Rankine cycle to produce shaft work to operate a fuel cell system component such as an air compressor. The air compressor delivers compressed air to a fuel cell stack. The steps of the Rankine cycle include pumping a liquid working fluid to an elevated pressure, heating the fluid to a gas, expanding the high temperature and high-pressure gas through an expander to produce shaft work used to drive a fuel cell system component such as an air compressor, and then removing energy from the cooling fluid to change the gas back to a liquid, and repeating the cycle. The liquid fluid can be heated by an external boiler, or one of the components of the fuel cell system such as the combustor and/or the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: An electric submersible pumping system provides for the production of fluids from a well and for limiting the amount of sediment accumulation in the well. The apparatus includes an electric submersible pumping system lowered into a well on a production tubing. The electric submersible system includes an electric submersible pump having an intake at or near a lower end thereof. A seal is connected to the intake and a motor is connected to a lower end of the seal. The apparatus further includes an auxiliary pump having an auxiliary pump discharge at an upper end thereof and an auxiliary pump intake at a lower end thereof. The auxiliary pump is connected to the motor. The system is lowered into the well so that it is positioned below the perforations in a well which communicate a producing formation with the interior of the well. The auxiliary pump intake will receive fluid along with sediments that may be produced by the formation.

Abstract: A gas compression system including a body of fluid and a down pipe. A first end of the down pipe is positioned to receive a fluid from a source above a surface of the body of fluid and a second end is positioned at a lower level of the body of fluid. A gas inlet is coupled to the down pipe, above the surface of the body of fluid for mixing a gas to be compressed with the fluid from the source to form a mixture. A chamber is positioned at the lower level of the body of fluid and coupled to the second end of the down pipe for receiving the mixture and collecting a compressed gas therefrom. A conduit is coupled to the chamber for transferring the compressed gas therefrom.

Abstract: A thermolysis reaction actuating pump system including a first set of walls defining a channel having a cross-sectional area less than one millimeter squared, and wherein a liquid is received in the channel. A second set of walls defining a reaction chamber and a thermolytic body carried in the reaction chamber. The first set and second set of walls are constructed and arranged to allow the flow of gas from the reaction chamber into the channel. A heater is positioned to provide heat to the thermolytic body and disassociate the thermolytic body to produce gas to pump the liquid through the channel.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) system is provided with a pump for pumping methanol into the cell. The pump is driven by carbon dioxide produced by the electro-chemical reaction at the anode of the fuel cell. Because the amount of CO2 generated is proportional to the power generated by the cell, and thus the amount of fuel demanded by the cell, the pump is self-regulating. The system may be integrated using microelectro-mechanical system fabrication techniques.

Abstract: A pressure exchanger for simultaneously reducing the pressure of a high pressure liquid and pressurizing a low pressure liquid. The pressure exchanger has a housing having a body portion; with end elements at opposite ends of the body portion. A rotor is in the body portion of the housing and in substantially sealing contact with the end plates. The rotor has at least one channel extending substantially longitudinally from one end of the rotor to the opposite end of the rotor with an opening at each end. The channels of the rotor are positioned in the rotor for alternate hydraulic communication with 1) high pressure liquid and 2) low pressure liquid, in order to transfer pressure between the high pressure liquid and the low pressure liquid. Because of the high pressures and the high angular velocities, this is a highly cavitation prone structure, In order to prevent cavitation, there are one or more grooves in one or both of the end plates.

Abstract: A fluid pumping assembly for pumping particulate material includes a pump housing defining a pump cavity including a pumping chamber for handling particulate material, a motive fluid chamber, and a moveable diaphragm. The fluid pumping assembly also includes devices for loading particulate material into the pumping chamber, and for injecting a high pressure, high volume purging fluid into the pumping chamber. Further, the fluid pumping assembly includes a control system having a control valve for shutting off flow of high pressure, high volume purging fluid into the pumping chamber when particulate material is being loaded into the pumping chamber, thus enabling dense phase loading of particulate material, and thereby optimizing a particulate material pumping capacity of the fluid pumping assembly.

Abstract: A hydrogen feed system for a fuel cell arrangement in which the hydrogen can be taken at a higher pressure from a supply tank sanding under pressure or under pressure from a reforming device and can be fed after relaxation to a lower pressure into the fuel cell arrangement, with a return flow loop being provided in the hydrogen circuit, so that a part of the non-consumed hydrogen emerging from the fuel cell arrangement can be fed back into the latter, is characterized in that a pump is provided which brings about the recirculation of the hydrogen and which can be driven from the pressure energy of the hydrogen taken from the tank or coming from a reforming unit.

Abstract: A hydrogen feed system for a fuel cell arrangement in which the hydrogen can be taken at a higher pressure from a supply tank standing under pressure or under pressure from a reforming device and can be fed after relaxation to a lower pressure into the fuel cell arrangement, with a return flow loop being provided in the hydrogen circuit, so that a part of the non-consumed hydrogen emerging from the fuel cell arrangement can be fed back into the latter, is characterized in that a pump is provided which brings about the recirculation of the hydrogen and which can be driven from the pressure energy of the hydrogen taken from the tank or coming from a reforming unit.

Abstract: A pump(10) for pumping various primary fluids includes a body(100) having a primary fluid channel(110) defined therein, and a primary fluid supply is coupled to the primary fluid channel to supply a primary fluid to the primary fluid channel. A mechanism(130/132) is provided for introducing a secondary fluid to an interface region of the primary fluid channel to thereby define a fluid interface between the primary fluid and the secondary dry fluid in the interface region. An energy delivery(150/160) device delivers energy to the interface region to create a thermal gradient along the fluid interface. The thermal gradient results in a surface tension gradient along the interface. The primary fluid will move to compensate for the surface tension gradient.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and process using an organic Rankine cycle to produce shaft work to operate a fuel cell system component such as an air compressor. The air compressor delivers compressed air to a fuel cell stack. The steps of the Rankine cycle include pumping a liquid working fluid to an elevated pressure, heating the fluid to a gas, expanding the high temperature and high-pressure gas through an expander to produce shaft work used to drive a fuel cell system component such as an air compressor, and then removing energy from the cooling fluid to change the gas back to a liquid, and repeating the cycle. The liquid fluid can be heated by an external boiler, or one of the components of the fuel cell system such as the combustor and/or the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and process using an organic Rankine cycle to produce shaft work to operate a fuel cell system component such as an air compressor. The air compressor delivers compressed air to a fuel cell stack. The steps of the Rankine cycle include pumping a liquid working fluid to an elevated pressure, heating the fluid to a gas, expanding the high temperature and high-pressure gas through an expander to produce shaft work used to drive a fuel cell system component such as an air compressor, and then removing energy from the cooling fluid to change the gas back to a liquid, and repeating the cycle. The liquid fluid can be heated by an external boiler, or one of the components of the fuel cell system such as the combustor and/or the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and process using an organic Rankine cycle to produce shaft work to operate a fuel cell system component such as an air compressor. The air compressor delivers compressed air to a fuel cell stack. The steps of the Rankine cycle include pumping a liquid working fluid to an elevated pressure, heating the fluid to a gas, expanding the high temperature and high-pressure gas through an expander to produce shaft work used to drive a fuel cell system component such as an air compressor, and then removing energy from the cooling fluid to change the gas back to a liquid, and repeating the cycle. The liquid fluid can be heated by an external boiler, or one of the components of the fuel cell system such as the combustor and/or the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A method for conducting suction and compression operation on a gaseous medium of thermodynamic process in the closed chamber of a closed chamber gas equipment said suction operation intended to bring the gaseous medium in to the closed chamber and said compression operation intended to compress the gaseous medium retained within the closed chamber; The gaseous medium is exposed to have direct contact with a gas which is dissimilar in composition to that of said gaseous medium and which is moving away from and towards the gaseous medium with the aid of a gas discharge means performing respectively the suction and compression operation and thereby acting as a gaseous piston. The gaseous piston may do only one of the two operations namely suction or compression. The gas discharge means may comprise a venturi means connected to the closed chamber or a gas reservoir connected to the closed chamber or both. The admittance of gaseous piston in to and out of the closed chamber may be through valve or port means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic ram pump, comprising: a propulsion water line fed with propulsion water, a delivery line which can be connected to delivery water via a bottom valve, a ram pump valve which is connected to the propulsion water line and delivery line, the propulsion water flowing into the delivery line when the ram pump valve is open and, after the closing of the ram pump valve, the water column flowing further in the delivery line sucking in delivery water via the bottom valve, the ram pump valve being held by spring force in its closed position separating the propulsion water line from the delivery line, and a pressure reservoir being provided, which is connected to the propulsion water line upstream of the ram pump valve in the direction of flow, the valve member being of annular design, axially movable and tightly connected to the delivery line, the effective cross section of this connection being larger than the cross section of the valve seat, and the valve seat of the ram pump valve

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of jet technology, primarily to apparatus for evacuation and gaseous mediums' compression. Apparatus is furnished by liquid-gas ejector, pump, separator and condenser. Ejector contains receiving chamber, which has a space in the zone of inlet part of mixing chamber for collecting of outlying part of liquid working medium's flow and its discharge through the drain pipe, which can be connected to separator or to the suction side of pump. The introduced design of installation allows to increase its efficiency factor.

Abstract: An explosive slurry is positioned in the interior of a pressure tank. A liquid is introduced into the interior of the pressure tank and into direct contact with the slurry. The slurry is forced out of the interior of the pressure tank to a position of utilization by the pressure of the liquid and without passing the slurry through a pump.

Abstract: The hydraulic vacuum pump (HVP) uses a centrifugal water pump with unconventional inlet and outlet connections that cause unconventional patterns of fluid flow. Valves are not required for operation. The submerged pump outlet must be kept open and unobstructed to flow, and must also be no smaller in cross-sectional area than the submerged pump-inlets. The pump inlet branches into two openings, each for a distinctly different purpose. A submerged pump-priming inlet branch uses an orifice of predetermined size to assure minimum liquid flow while also controlling both rate and limit of air extraction. The other inlet opening is connected to a fixed priming-siphon from which air is extracted as it is mixed with liquid in the pump in a novel automatic, pressure-activated cyclic action, and freely expelled in the outflow.

Abstract: A spacecraft includes heat-generating payload equipment, and a heat transport system with a cold plate thermally coupled to the equipment and a capillary-wick evaporator, for evaporating coolant liquid to cool the equipment. The coolant vapor is coupled to a condenser and in a loop back to the evaporator. A heated coolant reservoir is coupled to the loop for pressure control. If the wick is not wetted, heat transfer will not begin or continue. A pair of check valves are coupled in the loop, and the heater is cycled for augmentation pumping of coolant to and from the reservoir. This augmentation pumping, in conjunction with the check valves, wets the wick. The wick liquid storage capacity allows the augmentation pump to provide continuous pulsed liquid flow to assure continuous vapor transport and a continuously operating heat transport system. The check valves are of the ball type to assure maximum reliability.

Abstract: A swimming pool cleaning system 2 is provided which provides both water suction and compressed air to a pool cleaning device. A pump 20 draws water form a swimming pool P through the pool cleaning device, an attached vacuum hose 14 and a suction line 12. An air inlet port 10 enters the suction line 12 adjacent the pump 20. The pump 20 then compresses the air A and pumps the water to a higher pressure simultaneously. The pump 20 is followed by a main pool filter 40 in which the water is filtered and returned to the pool P and the compressed air A is separated. A compressed air outlet 50 draws the compressed air A out of the main pool filter 40 and delivers the compressed air A to the pool cleaning device along a compressed air supply line 58. The air inlet port 10 includes a hollow inner tube segment 60 partially surrounded by a resilient outer sleeve 70.

Abstract: A liquid spray compressor is provided in which cooling liquid is sprayed into a vessel containing gases or vapors to be compressed, thereby displacing the gas and simultaneously absorbing a significant amount of the heat of compression.

Abstract: A protein skimmer for clearing the impurities in an aquarium, comprising a skimmer body, an impurities collector, a top cover, a power head, an intermediate partition plate, a side partition plate, a transverse partition plate, a foam grid and a plurality of filtering cotton, wherein the impurities collector covers the top of the skimmer body and the upper end thereof is enclosed by the top cover. The foam grid is located at the interior of the lower end of the collector. The intermediate partition plate is disposed at the intermediate zone of the upper half portion of the skimmer body, so as to divide the internal space of the body into a large and a small bubble collecting chambers. The side and transverse partition plates are respectively located at the side and bottom of the small bubble chamber to define two filtering chambers therein. The power head is mounted to the lower portion of the skimmer body and is in connection with the large bubble collecting chamber at the water inlet of the body.

Abstract: The abstract concerns an expeller with six pump tubes positioned round the circumference of a circle. A weak refrigerant solution is conveyed through the tube by rising vapor bubbles. Heating is by means of sich flame tubes. To improve heat transfer, the pump tubes are welded to the flame tube. The pump tubes lead into an exhaust-gas flue and are located inside this flue. The hot exhaust gases can therefore transfer heat to the weak refrigerant solution.

Abstract: A fluid pressure feeding apparatus for feeding cold water for cooling a mining pit into the pit and pumping water and muddy water heated within the mining pit onto the ground. A controller for switching a number of the operative chambers is provided to thereby perform a continuous operation.

Abstract: Controls for operating fluid pressure fueled reciprocating piston engines are simplified by passing fuel directly to a cylinder inlet port from a synchronously timed rotary distributor. This permits a snap acting diaphragm transfer valve normally opening the inlet fuel path to the cylinder to respond to a decrease in fuel pressure to quickly snap open an exhaust port and close the inlet port. Several embodiments include a battery operated fuel supply source, recycling of spent fuel, and auxiliary exhaust paths from bottom dead center cylinder positions, to increase efficiency, speed and reliability.

Abstract: A practical method of forming foundation structures for buildings or the like is provided which allows economical and convenient formation of foundation piles and pile caps. In the preferred method hereof, an auger is drilled to a desired depth in the soil whereupon grout is pumped through the hollow shaft of the auger while the auger is removed to form a pile having an upper surface generally even with the initial grade level. A grout pump then removes grout from the pile down to a lower level generally slightly above the desired base level of a pile cap. After the grout hardens, the soil in the vicinity of the pile is removed to a level generally even with the upper surface of the pile whereupon a pile cap is poured onto the pile for at least partial support thereby.

Abstract: A system and method for pumping liquid fluorocarbons and the like from a pressurized supply container to another container. The system compensates for the inherent vapor pressure drop occuring within any pressurized container of fluorocarbons as the fluorocarbons are pumped out. A phase conversion apparatus is provided to recirculate a portion of the liquid being pumped from the downstream side of the pump, through a phase conversion chamber into the supply tank in a vapor phase. This prevents a vapor pressure drop in the supply tank and avoids the flashing of the liquid into a gas at the discharge connection of the supply container. The invention also comprises an improved fluorocarbon gear pump and pressure regulation means. The gear pump utilized offset gear axes and porous gears to form a liquid film over the gears to prevent deleterious contact in the pump and extend useful pump life.

Abstract: A pressurized-fluid-operated engine having a plurality of reciprocatable pistons carried within cylinders through connecting rods with an output shaft. The engine is adapted to operate on pressurized air or pressurized gases, without combustion, and it includes a recirculation device of the ejector type to provide recirculation of a part of the lower pressure exhaust gas and to permit mixing of the recirculated exhaust gas with incoming inlet gas. The device is particularly adapted for use where the source of compressed gas provides a very high pressure of gas, but a relatively low volume, and it permits the mixing of very high pressure inlet gas with lower pressure exhaust gas to provide an operating gas a sufficiently high level to provide a desired engine output.

Abstract: Process and appliance for conveying liquid or gaseous fluids, this process involving no mechanically movable propelling elements, but rather the formation, on the fluid that is to be conveyed, of interfaces with an additional fluid, and the application of a tension gradient at these interfaces, so that the so-called Marangoni effect is utilized for propelling the conveying stream.

Abstract: A well pump assembly has a tube extending into the well for delivering water to a point below the pump to reduce the viscosity of the oil being pumped. The downhole motor that drives the pump is surrounded by a jacket. The tube that delivers the water extends to a point below the jacket to a cross-over member mounted to the lower end of the jacket, which directs the water upward and inward. The cross-over member also has passages that directs the production fluid upward and outward.

Abstract: A water displacement mercury pump has a fluid inlet conduit and diffuser, a valve, a pressure cannister, and a fluid outlet conduit. The valve has a valve head which seats in an opening in the cannister. The entire assembly is readily insertable into a process vessel which produces mercury as a product. As the mercury settles, it flows into the opening in the cannister displacing lighter material. When the valve is in a closed position, the pressure cannister is sealed except for the fluid inlet conduit and the fluid outlet conduit. Introduction of a lighter fluid into the cannister will act to displace a heavier fluid from the cannister via the fluid outlet conduit. The entire pump assembly penetrates only a top wall of the process vessel, and not the sides or the bottom wall of the process vessel. This insures a leak-proof environment and is especially suitable for processing of hazardous materials.

Abstract: A pipe for elevating a liquid by liquid portions separated by gas gaps has a plurality of passages each having an inner diameter selected so as to form a stable meniscus film at the borders between the liquid portions and the gas portions and each having a plurality of successively arranged wall portions wettable and non-wettable by the liquid.

Abstract: Water is raised from a lower to a higher level by creating an air/water-droplet environment which is effective to establish a pressure head that imparts an upward velocity to the air in excess of the downward drift velocity of the droplets whereby the latter are carried upwardly by the air. Such an environment is created by introducing droplets of relatively warm water into relatively cool air at the lower end of a vertically oriented lift tower thereby heating the air which rises in the lift tower with a velocity sufficient to carry the droplets to the upper end of the lift tower. By directing the flow at the upper end of the lift tower toward the horizontal, the upwardly directed velocity component of the droplets is lost and they follow a ballistic path into a reservoir from which water is returned to the lower level through a hydraulic turbine.

Abstract: A gas-to-gas energy exchanger utilizing a commutator repetitively diverts a jet of a first pressurized gas between an energy exchange conduit and an exhaust outlet. Upon entering the energy exchange conduit, the first gas creates a pressure wave which traverses the conduit at sonic velocity and, in so doing, compresses a second gas in the conduit. The now pressurized second gas opens a first check valve and egresses through a primary outlet. When the first gas is diverted to the exhaust passage, a rarefaction wave is created in the energy exchange conduit and traverses the conduit at sonic velocity plus the velocity of the first gas still in the conduit. The energy exchange conduit length may be selected such that the rarefaction wave reaches the downstream end of the conduit before the previously entered slug of first gas to thereby prevent mixing of the first and second gases in the primary outlet; alternatively, the conduit length may be selected to permit any desired degree of such mixing.

Abstract: Transfer of energy from a relatively high pressure flowing first fluid to a relatively low pressure second fluid is achieved with a master commutator (10) driven solely in response to the flowing first fluid and which separates the first fluid into discrete slugs. Compression waves generated by the pressurized first fluid pressurizes the second fluid in a flow passage (11). The second fluid and first fluid are separately removed from the flow passage by a slave commutator (13) which is synchronized in frequency to the master commutator. In a preferred embodiment the master and slave commutators are fluidis oscillators (20, 21) having no moving parts. The technique has particular utilization as a supercharger for diesel engines.